Naked freelancer paints a giraffe

A freelance contractor from Bristol was yesterday arrested following a bizarre PR stunt that had locals in hysterics.

Police were called to a disturbance in center of the City at
about 3.30pm on Tuesday 7th July. At the same time, reports of a
naked gentleman acting strangely in the area were being
received.

Lance Hooper Bartlett, 33, greeted several officers outside the
City's Hippodrome Theatre. According to reports, Mr Bartlett had
removed his clothes and has spent well over an hour painting a
giant inflatable giraffe.

When later questioned about his actions, Mr Barlett calmly
explained to freelancesupermarket.com that the naked giraffe
painting was merely a PR stunt to highlight his growing concern
about the Agency Workers Directive. The Directive, which will give
temporary workers similar rights to permanent employees following
12 weeks work, has been widely criticised in the UK.

According to Mr Bartlett, who is also strongly opposed to IR35
and Family Business Tax , this will not be the end of his seemingly
outrageous protests. "I have other stunts planned but the Agency
Workers Directive is my top priority - it's a joke. In it's current
form, the rather flaky legislation will have a devastating impact
on freelance contractors and freelance recruitment in the UK as a
whole."